Jan 18, 2016, 10:57 am
Last edit by: MaxVO
This thread is a continuation of: Airline fee $200/$100 reimbursement reports: DL only [2011 - 2015]
Credit posting delays range from several business days (typical) to several weeks (seen in Oct 2015). The T&Cs state that it could take up to four weeks, so wait at least that long before worrying, and certainly don't contact Amex prematurely
Caution: effective from 22 June 2019, gift card purchases from Delta do not get reimbursed.
Read this primer first
additional collections/split tender
THIS IS A LOOPHOLE. BE DISCREET
Anything coded as an additional collection (aka add/collect or a/c), including difference in fare when changing flights, and accepting an FCM offer, also triggers the credit and will be reimbursed; this may (insufficient data) only happen if the additional amount collected is below ~$250 (regardless of card type, e.g. there have been reports of full $100 credit for Gold card on a/c over $100 and full $200 credit for Plat on a/c over $200 but less than $250)
other non Gift Card options
(DEAD) eGift Card (eCert) details
This Section is not applicable effective 2019/06/22!
Credit posting delays range from several business days (typical) to several weeks (seen in Oct 2015). The T&Cs state that it could take up to four weeks, so wait at least that long before worrying, and certainly don't contact Amex prematurely
Caution: effective from 22 June 2019, gift card purchases from Delta do not get reimbursed.
Read this primer first
- In the Amex Membership Rewards family, both the Consumer and Business versions of the Platinum and Centurion cards qualify for a $200 airline credit. The Premier Rewards Gold (PRG) card is eligible for a $100 airline credit.
- You must
click here to<--(link dead) select Delta as your enrolled airline before you make a reimbursable purchase, else the benefit won't apply. The feature is activated immediately upon airline designation. Try logging in to your AMEX account and selecting the airline. This link may work - If you've selected DL in the past and don't wish to change airlines, there's no need to select again; current selection rolls into future years until modified.
- The T&Cs state the eligible charges, but YMMV, so don't call and ask especially about the fuzzier cases below because that will probably hasten closing of any loopholes.
- The credit is per account, not per card. If the main account has authorized users with additional cards, eligible charges may still be made on those cards, but they'll count jointly towards the same account limit.
- Credits are capped per calendar year, meaning you could tap the full amount on Dec 31st and again on Jan 1st in the extreme. Transaction date, not posting date, determines the year. Note: This is not my experience. I purchased Dec 31, 2016, posted Jan 1, 2017 and went against my 2017 credit. (TheMadBrewer)
- You will get a partial credit to bring your total annual reimbursements to the limit exactly if a qualifying charge takes you past the limit.
- After four weeks, if you've read this Wiki carefully and posted here seeking assistance but the credit still has not arrived, consider chatting with Amex online. Politely mention the "Delta extras" you thought would be reimbursed within four weeks and they'll handle it.
additional collections/split tender
THIS IS A LOOPHOLE. BE DISCREET
Anything coded as an additional collection (aka add/collect or a/c), including difference in fare when changing flights, and accepting an FCM offer, also triggers the credit and will be reimbursed; this may (insufficient data) only happen if the additional amount collected is below ~$250 (regardless of card type, e.g. there have been reports of full $100 credit for Gold card on a/c over $100 and full $200 credit for Plat on a/c over $200 but less than $250)
- Relevantly, split tender where you partially pay with a gift card, existing credit, VDB voucher etc. and partly charged to your card, are processed by DL as an add/collect and trigger the credit per above.
- Thus if you anticipate actually buying, say, a $200 DL ticket, you could buy a single $50 gift card, then buy the ticket using $50 GC and $150 on your card (the $150 will be reimbursed)
- Canceling a ticket within the 24-hour risk-free period generally results in funds being returned to where they came from (GC back to GC and CC back to CC). If you have no immediate travel plans but anticipate travel in the next year, consider buying a fully refundable ticket and then changing it later once you know your future travel dates. IF a lot of people suddenly start refunding tickets after getting the credit reimbursement this may hasten the demise of this particular loophole.
- Caution when buying multiple tickets: for example if you buy two $125 tickets in one transaction (total $250) and use one $100 GC or even two $50 GCs, they will all be applied to the same ticket and you would see one additional collection for $25 on that ticket and a separate "normal" charge for $125 for the second ticket. In this scenario only $25 will be reimbursed (instead of the $150 you might be expecting)
other non Gift Card options
- baggage and other service fees (same day change/standby, change fees, etc.)
- taxes on award flights
- in-flight purchases (EXCEPT wifi)
- SkyClub access/guest fees (but NOT gift cards purchased at a SC, which are actually activated at a 3rd party web site)
- mileage boosts (post 2499)
- The $59 for Delta Skymiles Select is reimbursed (posts 2180, 2182)
- seat assignment fees (may need to call in to have processed manually)
(DEAD) eGift Card (eCert) details
This Section is not applicable effective 2019/06/22!
- Delta eGift Cards (eCerts) have been reimbursed in practice, even though technically they do not meet the criteria listed by Amex for reimbursement. The name on the eCerts doesn't matter and need not match your card, but you must purchase using an eligible Amex card and meet the other criteria detailed in this Wiki.
- Denominations over $50 will not generate the credit. Multiple $50 eCerts will. The smallest denomination available is $50.
- To order, use this direct link to the eGift cert order page, or navigate via Delta.com>Shop>eGift Certificate.
- No need to place separate orders using multiple carts/checkouts. By adding multiple certs to one order (e.g., 4 x $50), even though they are in the same cart, the certs will post as separate transactions and still generate a credit for each.
- eCert purchases may initially authorize (show pending) as ticket purchases before posting to (finalize on) your statement. Multiple-eCert orders may authorize the combined value as a single pending ticket purchase. Don't worry; they'll post later as separate eCert charges in the qualifying amounts.
- eCerts are generated instantly, but the codes are not valid for use until 72 hours after purchase, so don't order expecting to use them in a pinch.
- A maximum of three eCerts may be redeemed per online transaction. Splitting a round-trip into two one-ways will allow you to use additional eCerts, but in some cases two one-ways may cost more than a single roundtrip so compare carefully to decide whether using more than 3 certs on a single trip is worthwhile.
- If purchasing a ticket for more than 1 person, splitting the purchase into a separate transaction for each person would also allow the use of more than 3 certs on a single trip at (usually) no additional cost. However this could have an adverse effect on ability to upgrade, upgrade priority, and other elite benefits, and on the likelihood of being reaccommodated on the same flight in the event of a flight cancellation.
- There is one recent REPORT of a telephone agent allowing more than three eCerts to be used when purchasing one ticket.
- eCerts do not expire. Their T&Cs are listed here.
Airline fee $250/$200/$100 reimbursement reports: DL only (2015-2019)
Nov 27, 2018, 10:09 pm
#1051
Join Date: Sep 2018
Posts: 150
Sill trying to use my remaining 30 dollar credit
Okay, so the learning curve continues. The website requires a 50 dollar minimum purchase. So I am back where I started. I need to spend 50 to get my 30 dollar remaining credit.
Can anyone advise if hard gift cards code different from e-cards (I am buying from the Delta proper site, not the 3p)?
Nov 28, 2018, 10:03 am
#1052
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Rochester, MN
Programs: UA Silver, Hilton HHonors Diamond, IHG Plat
Posts: 1,830
So in summary, you can only use three $50 gift cards to purchase airfare on delta.com? If you call reservations, you can use more?
Nov 30, 2018, 8:14 am
#1053
Join Date: Nov 2018
Posts: 2
New AMEX Platinum cardholder, activated Delta on benefits page then immediately purchased 1x$50 physical gift card from desktop site on 11/26. Posted 11/27 and credit hit today 11/30. Just ordered 3 more.
Nov 30, 2018, 10:55 am
#1054
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: BOS
Programs: Hyatt, SPG, AA
Posts: 22
5x$50 DL eGift Certs purchased from desktop on 11/26 using Hilton Aspire Amex. purchase posted for 11/27. Fee Reimbursement posted 11/30.
Nov 30, 2018, 11:25 pm
#1056
Join Date: Nov 2018
Posts: 1
Amex Platinum
Purchased four $50 gift cards on Delta's website.
Charges posted 11/27.
Reimbursements credited today.
Cheers all.
Charges posted 11/27.
Reimbursements credited today.
Cheers all.
Dec 1, 2018, 5:41 pm
#1057
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 998
Any reason why you got the physical cards over the e-gift cards?
Dec 2, 2018, 9:16 pm
#1059
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 336
Does anyone know if the $200 credit can be claimed twice if you have another card on the account? My wife's card has her name and a different account number. Seems like it would and I'm going to try it but wanted to see if anyone had tried it already.
Also as an fyi, I bought a $50 credit on the web version of the Credit sight yesterday and when I looked on my Statement it appears as:
Doing business as:
DELTA AIR LINES GC
25 PEARL STREET
PORTLAND
ME
04101
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA (THE)
207.549.2200
Category: Merchandise & Supplies - Internet Purchase
I'll update this thread once I get the credit (or not).
Also as an fyi, I bought a $50 credit on the web version of the Credit sight yesterday and when I looked on my Statement it appears as:
Doing business as:
DELTA AIR LINES GC
25 PEARL STREET
PORTLAND
ME
04101
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA (THE)
207.549.2200
Category: Merchandise & Supplies - Internet Purchase
I'll update this thread once I get the credit (or not).
Dec 3, 2018, 9:46 am
#1060
Join Date: Apr 2017
Posts: 2
I understand that only 3 gift cards can be used per transaction. However, can I use 3 gift cards AND pay the remainder with a CC? The ticket I am looking at is a lot more than $150. Thanks.
Dec 3, 2018, 1:26 pm
#1061
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 998
Also, if it doesn't increase cost, split it into two one ways, then you can use up to six gift cards total...
Dec 3, 2018, 2:44 pm
#1062
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Rochester, MN
Programs: UA Silver, Hilton HHonors Diamond, IHG Plat
Posts: 1,830
Any recent experience with getting a post tix purchase upgrade to Comfort + reimbursed?
Dec 5, 2018, 5:22 am
#1064
Join Date: Dec 2018
Posts: 15
Elevate your Status
Anyone tried purchasing one of Delta’s “Elevate your Status” packages to trigger the airline credit on AMEX Plat or Aspire?
Dec 5, 2018, 1:12 pm
#1065
Join Date: Jan 2015
Posts: 155
Bought two $50 gift cards on Delta.com with new AMEX Gold. Posted Dec. 2nd, AMEX Airline Fee Reimbursement appeared today (12/5) but was dated 12/4.